From Clinician. to Cabinet: The Use of Health Information Across the Continuum

Transcription

1 From Clinician to Cabinet: The Use of Health Information Across the Continuum Better care. Improved quality and safety. More effective allocation of resources. Organizations in Canada that deliver mental health, continuing care and home care services are reaping these benefits through a standardized approach to point-of-care data capture an approach that also supports clinical, management and funding decisions. Inside Data Flow 2 Who Benefits and How 4 The Way Forward 8

2 2 Data Flow In eight provinces and territories in Canada, as well as around the About interrai world, information about individuals interrai is a not-for-profit network receiving health services in hospitals of researchers and clinicians and community settings is being collected in more than 30 countries in a standardized way using the interrai worldwide. interrai develops Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI). and maintains the assessment instruments and decision support tools. The RAI was developed in the early 1990s to support quality of care in nursing homes. International research resulted in the development of an integrated suite of assessment instruments using common concepts and measures across the health care continuum, including acute care, facility-based continuing care, home care, mental health care and palliative care. Using the RAI, clinicians assess individuals and capture information electronically at the point of care including Health, functional and cognitive status Nutrition, continence and skin condition Mood, behaviour and communication Social supports, environment and caregivers Treatments, procedures and medications About the Canadian Institute for Health Information The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) is an independent not-forprofit organization that provides essential information on Canada s health system and the health of Canadians. CIHI provides support for submission and use of interrai data in Canada. Care providers then receive real-time reports on the assessed individuals health status, progress and risks which support care decisions. With no additional data collection effort, the data then flows to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). CIHI de-identifies the data, conducts analyses using this information and produces aggregate-level reports for managers and funders at organizational, regional and provincial/territorial levels.

3 3 Health System Planning in Nova Scotia Nova Scotia uses RAI data to make evidence-informed investment decisions. The Ministry of Health in Nova Scotia mandated implementation of the RAI Home Care (RAI-HC) in 2002 to support quality of care and system planning. Since then, Nova Scotia RAI- HC data has been used for front-line care and key resource allocation decisions, enabling strategic investments where they are needed most. When the province decided to build more than 1,000 new nursing home beds, it used RAI data to determine numbers and types of beds, as well as the appropriate distribution across the province. case for Nova Scotia s innovative Caregiver Benefit Program. This program was designed to reduce institutionalization of individuals who have complex needs by supporting their informal caregivers at home. Using provincial RAI data, the ministry projected the potential reach and impact of the program and monitored implementation to ensure that scarce resources were targeted at those with the greatest need. One thing is for sure: because we used client needs profiles from the RAI data, along with population demographics and other stats, we were able to present evidence-based recommendations to Cabinet, enabling the members to clearly see the rationale and providing them with the evidence to explain to their constituents and others why the new nursing homes were being built and where they were assigned. When the ministry wanted to fairly allocate more than $3 million annually in new rehabilitation resources among communities, it used evidence generated from the RAI data. The ministry also employed RAI data to build a business Donna Dill, Director, Monitoring and Evaluation Continuing Care Branch, Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness interrai Corporation, Modified with permission for Canadian use under licence to the Canadian Institute for Health Information.

4 4 Who Benefits and How Clients and Families With standardized assessments, electronic transmission of information can occur across care settings. This reduces the burden for clients and families of providing basic information to multiple providers. The RAI information enables clients and families to have more meaningful conversations with clinicians around the most appropriate plan of care. Clinicians and Other Caregivers Interdisciplinary collaboration and continuity of care are enhanced through the use of a common language and electronic sharing of information across service settings and care providers. With real-time interrai assessment clinical summaries and protocols, health system workers have access to international best practices where they need it most: at the point of care. Clinical Assessment Protocols These tools support the alert clinicians in real time when provision of the right individuals may be at risk of decline or failure to improve. care in the right place for a person s needs, Outcome scales all of which is based summarize clinical and functional on sound evidence. status and help decision-makers understand the needs of individuals and populations.

5 System Managers and Funders Summary information from outcome scales Quality indicators helps system managers at organizational, allow for fair comparisons regional and provincial/territorial levels design of quality and safety services and programs that meet the evolving across organizations, needs of their populations. provinces and territories. Comparable quality indicators allow them to benchmark their performance with that of their peers in a quest for continuous improvement in the areas of quality and safety. These measures also serve to demonstrate accountability through public reporting by organizations such as Health Quality Ontario. Grouping methodologies help funders align resources with population needs and allocate limited funds across regions or provider organizations. RAI grouping methodologies allow use for evidence-informed staffing and funding decisions.

6 6 Quality and Safety in Winnipeg Using RAI data, a Manitoba nursing home reduces the use of antipsychotic medications by more than 20%. RAI quality indicators showed that there was variation in the rate of antipsychotic use across the 38 personal care homes in the Winnipeg Health Region, suggesting opportunities for improvement. In response, a regional quality improvement project led by Winnipeg Regional Health Authority managers Joe Puchniak and Cynthia Sinclair was developed and implemented. In just six months, Middlechurch Home in Winnipeg, a 197-bed facility dedicated to the care of the elderly, achieved a reduction of more than 20% in antipsychotic medication use among the residents who were on the medication when the project began. This was achieved without any increase in behavioural symptoms or physical restraint use among this group of residents. These results represent a remarkable improvement with significant implications for resident safety, quality of life and cost. In addition, care teams are now working more collaboratively and creatively, and are beginning to use the data as never before, while management is now eager to continue quality improvement efforts and to look at other RAI quality indicators. There is incredible potential for the RAI data to be used to assist with strategic planning, operational management and quality improvement across the Winnipeg Health Region. This project is a strong first step towards realizing this potential. It also has great potential for engaging staff and families in efforts to further enhance quality of care for seniors in our long-term care facilities. Réal Cloutier, Chief Operating Officer, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority

7 7 Ontario Innovations in Funding and Shared Health Records Implementing standardized assessments and the Integrated Assessment Record across the Greater Toronto Area cluster is an important step in helping health service providers to deliver more patient-centric care within our communities. Mimi Lowi-Young, CEO, Central West Local Health Integration Network Ontario s Health Based Allocation Model uses RAI data to inform funding. Since 1996, Ontario s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has used the wealth of RAI data collected at the point of care to support evidence-based distribution of available funds for continuing care in hospitals. The province s Health Based Allocation Model is a sophisticated decision-support tool that uses RAI assessment data and other information to understand the expected demand and expenditures for health services across the continuum. The Integrated Assessment Record enables health service providers to access assessment data in a secure electronic environment. Ontario s Integrated Assessment Record project leverages electronic records to share assessment information, including RAI data, among care providers in hospitals and community agencies. This unique initiative gives all providers within a client s circle of care access to assessment information, regardless of service setting. It supports collaboration across sectors, enhancing quality and continuity of care. Currently under development is a data repository for use by data providers and by the ministry for planning and quality improvement.

8 The Way Forward The benefits of the RAI are already being realized across Canada and around the world. interrai assessments are designed for electronic data capture and sharing across care settings. They also provide clinicians with real-time clinical decision support, driving best practice in care delivery. RAI tools inform health system uses including planning, funding, quality monitoring and accountability with accurate and reliable information. Canada s opportunity going forward will be to fully leverage the rich data now being captured by interrai assessments. Ground-breaking analysis of health system performance is already under way. The knowledge gained from the use of this information will be essential in our quest for quality care, improved health and a sustainable health system for the future. The appropriate use of high-quality information on health services and outcomes is critical to the future of Canada s health system. Clinicians need information to support their care planning decisions. Health system managers need information for planning, quality monitoring and accountability. Policy-makers and senior decision-makers need information for system management and accountability. This product is one in a series designed to showcase the use and value of information at these various levels. Acknowledgements The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) would like to acknowledge and express our appreciation to the individuals and organizations whose stories have been showcased as part of this project. CIHI Communications 495 Richmond Road, Suite 600 Ottawa, Ontario K2A 4H6 Phone: (Ottawa) or (Toronto) communications@cihi.ca